Diocesan Spelling Bee
Stage 4 – Round 1
Word
boundary
Pronunciation (Say bown-duh-ree/ bown-dree)
Sentence
The sheep are at the boundary fence.
Word
irrational
Pronunciation (Say i-rash-uh-nuhl)
Sentence
It seemed irrational to walk home in the dark.
Word
lunar
Pronunciation (Say loo-nuh)
Sentence
Lunar cycles are determined by the moon.
Word
summoned
Pronunciation (Say sum-uhn-d)
Sentence
The witness was summoned to give evidence in court.
Word
knowledge
Pronunciation (Say nol-ij)
Sentence
His knowledge of Ancient Greece is extensive.
Word
haphazard
Pronunciation (Say hap-haz-uhd)
Sentence
She has a haphazard approach to homework.
Word
measured
Pronunciation (Say mezh-uhd)
Sentence
He estimated the distance then measured it.
Word
optimist
Pronunciation (Say op-tuh-mist)
Sentence
Being an optimist helped him cope with the problem.
Word
nutrition
Pronunciation (Say nyoo-trish-uhn)
Sentence
The study of nutrition focuses on developing healthy eating habits.
Word
responsible
Pronunciation (Say ruh-spon-suh-buhl)
Sentence
A responsible citizen returned the wallet.
Word
tentacles
Pronunciation (Say ten-tuh-kuhlz)
Sentence
The tentacles of the octopus were visible.
Word
weird
Pronunciation (Say weer-d)
Sentence
The gathering storm made the sky look really weird.
Word
upholsterer
Pronunciation (Say up-hohl-stuh-ruh)
Sentence
The upholsterer repaired the hole in the chair.
Word
allergic
Pronunciation (Say uh-ler-jik)
Sentence
Many people these days are allergic to nut products.
Word
carriage
Pronunciation (Say ka-rij)
Sentence
The railway carriage was full of athletes.
Word
dessert
Pronunciation (Say duh-zert)
Sentence
The dessert was the best part of the meal.
Word
extremely
Pronunciation (Say ek-streem-lee)
Sentence
It was extremely hot: even for a country like Australia.
Word
bough
Pronunciation (Say bow)
Sentence
The broken bough blocked the road.
Word
gnawed
Pronunciation (Say naw-d)
Sentence
The patient mouse gnawed through the rope.
Word
frenzied
Pronunciation (Say fren-zeed)
Sentence
He reported the frenzied attack by the dog.
Word
vegetation
Pronunciation (Say vej-uh-tay-shuhn)
Sentence
The vegetation was destroyed by the fire.
Word
yearn
Pronunciation (Say yern)
Sentence
I yearn for some peace and quiet!
Word
slaughter
Pronunciation (Say slaw-tuh)
Sentence
We usually slaughter animals for food.
Word
queue
Pronunciation (kyoo)
Sentence
I often choose the slowest queue at the supermarket.
Word
thermonuclear
Pronunciation (Say ther-moh-nyoo-klee-uh)
Sentence
Very high temperatures cause thermonuclear reactions.
Word
reluctant
Pronunciation (Say ruh-luk-tuhnt/ree-luk-tuhnt)
Sentence
He was reluctant to try out for that part in the play.
Word
wearisome
Pronunciation (Say weer-ree-suhm)
Sentence
The climb up the mountain proved wearisome for everyone.
Word
abandoned
Pronunciation (Say uh-ban-duhnd)
Sentence
The fossikers abandoned the empty mine.
Word
zoology
Pronunciation (Say zoh-ol-uh-jee)
Sentence
Zoology is the study of animals.
Word
government
Pronunciation (Say guv-uhn-muhnt)
Sentence
An elected government runs the nation.
Word
coordinator
Pronunciation (Say koh-aw-duh-nayt-uh)
Sentence
The coordinator ensured that the carnival ran smoothly.
Word
responsible
Pronunciation (Say ruh/ree-spon-suh-buhl)
Sentence
His faulty brakes made him responsible for the crash.
Word
jettison
Pronunciation (Say jet-uh-suhn)
Sentence
We had to jettison our gear from the aircraft to remain airborne.
Word
league
Pronunciation (Say lee-g)
Sentence
They prefer the league football code to Aussie Rules.
Word
implicate
Pronunciation (Say-im-pluh-kayt)
Sentence
My account of what happened may implicate you in the crime.
Word
hoarse
Pronunciation (Say haws)
Sentence
She was hoarse from singing so many songs at the top of her voice.
Word
mysterious
Pronunciation (Say muh-steer-ree-uhs)
Sentence
His tilted hat made him appear very mysterious.
Word
especially
Pronunciation (Say uh-spesh-uh-lee)
Sentence
Their response to the request for assistance was especially generous.
Word
personalities
Pronunciation (Say per-suh-nal-uh-teez)
Sentence
The personalities of the twins were completely different.
Word
principle
Pronunciation (Say prin-suh-puhl)
Sentence
I refuse on the principle that it is breaking the law.
Word
auction
Pronunciation (Say ok-shuhn)
Sentence
The auction was successful, with all articles being sold.
Word
crevice
Pronunciation (Say krev-uhs)
Sentence
His foot was caught in the crevice of the rock.
Word
origami
Pronunciation (Say o-ruh-gah-mee)
Sentence
Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding.
Word
depot
Pronunciation (Say dep-oh)
Sentence
When not in use, buses are kept at the depot.
Word
mucus
Pronunciation (Say myoo-kuhs)
Sentence
Mucus is often an unpleasant side-effect of a cold or sore throat.
Word
hygiene
Pronunciation (Say huy-jeen)
Sentence
Good hygiene is an important ingredient in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Word
brethren
Pronunciation (Say breth-ruhn)
Sentence
Brethren usually refers to male members of a religious order.
Word
jeopardy
Pronunciation (Say jep-uh-dee)
Sentence
Being in jeopardy means you are in severe danger.
Word
pedestal
Pronunciation (Say ped-uh-stuhl)
Sentence
Many singers are put on a pedestal by their fans.
(50)
Diocesan Spelling Bee
Stage 4 – Round 2
Word
stationery
Pronunciation (Say stay-shun-air-ee)
Sentence
That letter is written on fancy stationery.
Word
futile
Pronunciation (Say fyoo-tuyl)
Sentence
Swimming against the tide is a futile exercise.
Word
gauge
Pronunciation (Say gay-j)
Sentence
After that downpour our rain gauge is now full.
Word
persuade
Pronunciation (Say puh-swayd)
Sentence
I hope I can persuade you to join me for lunch.
Word
obedience
Pronunciation (Say oh-bee-dee-uhns)
Sentence
Obedience can be difficult when you’re two years old!
Word
tsunami
Pronunciation (Say soo-nah-mee)
Sentence
A tsunami is a destructive force of nature caused by underwater earthquakes.
Word
delicious
Pronunciation (Say duh-lish-uhs)
Sentence
My birthday dinner was delicious.
Word
archaeology
Pronunciation (Say ah-kee-ol-uh-gee)
Sentence
Archaeology provides a concrete window connecting us to our past.
Word
interrogate
Pronunciation (Say in-tair-ruh-gayt)
Sentence
Some soldiers need the skills to interrogate to obtain information.
Word
waive
Pronunciation (Say wayv)
Sentence
I waive my right to contest this will.
Word
zephyr
Pronunciation (Say zef-uh)
Sentence
The zephyr provided a welcome relief from the heatwave.
Word
unnecessary
Pronunciation (Say un-nes-uh-seh-ree)
Sentence
Speeding is always unnecessary.
Word
annihilate
Pronunciation (Say un-nuy-uh-layt)
Sentence
A nuclear explosion could totally annihilate a city.
Word
wrought
Pronunciation (Say rawt)
Sentence
When iron is wrought it is beaten or shaped by hammering.
Word
lieutenant
Pronunciation (Say lef-ten-uhnt)
Sentence
The lieutenant commanded his troops with great skill.
Word
humanitarian
Pronunciation (Say hyoo-man-uh-tair-ree-uhn)
Sentence
The humanitarian devoted his life to helping people in developing countries.
Word
haemoglobin
Pronunciation (Say hee-muh-gloh-buhn)
Sentence
Your haemoglobin carries the oxygen in your red blood cells.
Word
versatile
Pronunciation (Say ver-suh-tuyl)
Sentence
Being versatile means you are skilled at adapting to different situations.
Word
kaleidoscope
Pronunciation (Say kuh-luy-duh-skohp)
Sentence
hen you shake it A kaleidoscope produces reflected patterns.
Word
indestructible
Pronunciation (Say in-duh-struk-tuh-buhl)
Sentence
Everyone thought the Titanic was an indestructible ship.
Word
ubiquitous
Pronunciation (Say yoo-bik-qwah-tuhs)
Sentence
The ubiquitous weather patterns are a puzzle to us all.
Word
litigious
Pronunciation (Say luh-tij-uhs)
Sentence
Our litigious world keeps lawyers in business.
Word
beige
Pronunciation (Say bayzh)
Sentence
That beige outfit goes well with your dark hair.
Word
guaranteed
Pronunciation (Say ga-ruhn-teed)
Sentence
The quality of this product is guaranteed.
Word
incandescent
Pronunciation (Say in-kan-des-nt)
Sentence
The incandescent light seemed to warm the room.
Word
draught
Pronunciation (Say drahft)
Sentence
The draught coming through the window rattled the blinds.
Word
camouflage
Pronunciation (Say kam-uh-flahzh)
Sentence
Many animals have the ability to camouflage themselves for protection.
Word
brusque
Pronunciation (Say bruusk)
Sentence
He has a brusque manner which can make others feel uncomfortable.
Word
indecipherable
Pronunciation (Say in-duh-suy-fuh-ruh-buhl)
Sentence
The writing on this script is indecipherable.
Word
debris
Pronunciation (Say deb-ree)
Sentence
The debris from the storm ensured long hours for rescue workers.
Word
facilities
Pronunciation (Say fuh-sil-uh-tees)
Sentence
The new facilities will assist students’ learning.
Word
wraith
Pronunciation (Say rayth)
Sentence
The wraith frightened the living beings in the room.
Word
gynaecology
Pronunciation (Say guy-nuh-kol-uh-gee)
Sentence
Gynaecology deals with the physiological functions of and diseases in women.
Word
euphoric
Pronunciation (Say yoo-faw-rik)
Sentence
He was euphoric after his amazing win.
Word
complementary
Pronunciation (Say kom-pluh-men-tuh-ree)
Sentence
They were very complementary about the facilities and the menu.
Word
accelerating
Pronunciation (Say ak-sel-uh-ray-ting)
Sentence
A car is usually accelerating automatically when going down a hill.
Word
luminescent
Pronunciation (Say loo-muh-nes-uhnt)
Sentence
The moon was eerily luminescent in the dark night sky.
Word
misconstrue
Pronunciation (Say mis-kuhn-stroo)
Sentence
It is easy to misconstrue some text messages.
Word
mediocre
Pronunciation (Say mee-dee-oh-kuh)
Sentence
That was fairly mediocre for a birthday cake.
Word
opaque
Pronunciation (Say oh-payk)
Sentence
That gem is too opaque to be a diamond.
Word
psychic
Pronunciation (Say suy-kik)
Sentence
The psychic seemed to read my mind.
Word
explanatory
Pronunciation (Say ek-splan-uh-tuh-ree)
Sentence
The attached explanatory note helped to clarify what needed to be done.
Word
desiccate
Pronunciation (Say des-uh-kayt)
Sentence
You desiccate coconut by removing all the moisture.
Word
manoeuvre
Pronunciation (Say muh-noo-vuh)
Sentence
With great skill,the troops successfully completed the manoeuvre.
Word
obsession
Pronunciation (Say uhb-sesh-uhn)
Sentence
Keeping fit can become an obsession for some people.
Word
noticeable
Pronunciation (Say noh-tuhs-uh-buhl)
Sentence
His swollen nose was not as noticeable as he thought.
Word
prevalence
Pronunciation (Say prev-uh-luhns)
Sentence
Recent bushfires have impacted on the prevalence of native animals.
Word
ghoul
Pronunciation (Say gool)
Sentence
A ghoul is said to have a morbid interest in death.
Word
mandible
Pronunciation (Say man-duh-buhl)
Sentence
The lower jaw in mammals and fish is referred to as the mandible.
Word
purist
Pronunciation (Say pyoo-ruhst)
Sentence
A purist adheres strictly and often excessively to tradition.
(50)
Diocesan Spelling Bee
Stage 4 – Round 3
Word
dependency
Pronunciation (Say duh-pend- uhn-see)
Sentence
He regretted his financial dependency on his parents.
Word
fluorescent
Pronunciation (Say floor-res-uhnt)
Sentence
Where would we be without the fluorescent light?
Word
aisle
Pronunciation (uyl)
Sentence
Sit in the aisle if you can’t see in your seat.
Word
consequently
Pronunciation (Say kon-suh-kwuhnt-lee)
Sentence
He was caught and consequently, due to his actions, was imprisoned.
Word
embarrassed
Pronunciation (Say em-ba-ruhst)
Sentence
She was too embarrassed to admit she spilt the coffee.
Word
changeable
Pronunciation (Say chayng-uhbl)
Sentence
The weather is so changeable it’s hard to choose what to wear each day.
Word
racquet
Pronunciation (Say rak-uht)
Sentence
That tennis racquet is very expensive.
Word
skulduggery
Pronunciation (Say skul-dug-uh-ree)
Sentence
What sort of skulduggery has led to this difficult situation?
Word
scintillate
Pronunciation (Say sin-tuh-layt)
Sentence
Clever chatter, with a twinkle in the eye, is conversation that will scintillate.
Word
ricochet
Pronunciation (Say rik-uh-shay)
Sentence
A rebounding bullet is said to ricochet.
Word
intriguing
Pronunciation (Say in-treeg-ing)
Sentence
A secret not shared is always intriguing.
Word
hallucinate
Pronunciation (Say huh-loos-suh-nate)
Sentence
Extreme dehydration and heat may cause one to hallucinate.
Word
misogyny
Pronunciation (Say mush-soj-uh-nee)
Sentence
Misogyny is a hatred of women.
Word
privileged
Pronunciation (Say priv-uh- lijd)
Sentence
Those chosen to represent their school should feel privileged.
Word
definitely
Pronunciation (Say def-uh-nuht-lee)
Sentence
They are definitely coming to your party.
Word
effervescent
Pronunciation (Say ef-uh-ves-uhnt)
Sentence
She has a bubbly, effervescent personality.
Word
blasé
Pronunciation (Say blah-zay)
Sentence
You are very blasé about your poor English mark.
Word
plateau
Pronunciation (Say plat -oh)
Sentence
We were relieved when our climb finally led us to the plateau.
Word
notoriety
Pronunciation (Say noh-tuh-ry-uh-tee)
Sentence
The notoriety of the criminal preceded him.
Word
oscillate
Pronunciation (Say o-sil-ayt)
Sentence
Oscillate means to cause to swing to and fro.
Word
mathematician
Pronunciation (Say math-uh-mat-i-shuhn)
Sentence
The mathematician could complete complex algorithms with ease.
Word
miniature
Pronunciation (Say min-uh-chuh)
Sentence
The miniature house was a perfect replica of the big one!
Word
precise
Pronunciation (Say pruh-suys)
Sentence
You need to be precise when you explain directions.
Word
imaginable
Pronunciation (Say i-maj-in-uh-buhl)
Sentence
His magic trick was beyond imaginable.
Word
vertebrates
Pronunciation (Say ver-tuh-brayts)
Sentence
Vertebrates have a backbone or spinal column.
Word
diarrhoea
Pronunciation (Say duy-uh-ree-uh)
Sentence
Gastric, or diarrhoea can be very uncomfortable.
Word
leisure
Pronunciation (Say lezh-uh)
Sentence
Leisure, also known as free time, is usually considered invaluable.
Word
wondrous
Pronunciation (Say wun-druhs)
Sentence
The eclipse proved to be a wondrous event.
Word
dominant
Pronunciation (Say dom-uh-nuhnt)
Sentence
The lion is dominant in the animal kingdom.
Word
exaggerate
Pronunciation (Say eg-zaj-uh-rayt)
Sentence
Liars sometimes just exaggerate the truth.
Word
adrenaline
Pronunciation (Say uh-dren-uh-luhn)
Sentence
The adrenaline was pumping as she crossed the finish line in front.
Word
baulk
Pronunciation (Say bawk)
Sentence
His baulk at the third dive cost him a place in the final.
Word
reign
Pronunciation (ray-n)
Sentence
The reign of Queen Elizabeth has been long and full of pageantry.
Word
sovereign
Pronunciation (Say sov-ruhn)
Sentence
Our sovereign is the supreme ruler or monarch.
Word
recognisable
Pronunciation (Say-rek-uhg-nuyz- uh-buhll)
Sentence
That wig renders you barely recognisable.
Word
unconscious
Pronunciation (Say un-kon-shuhs)
Sentence
It’s important to be unconscious prior to having an operation.
Word
intricate
Pronunciation (Say in-truh-kuht)
Sentence
The pattern on the screen was extremely intricate.
Word
longevity
Pronunciation (Say lon-jev-uh-tee)
Sentence
Longevity is the privilege of the aged.
Word
minions
Pronunciation (Say min-yuhns)
Sentence
They ordered their minions to clean the table after the banquet.
Word
psychiatrist
Pronunciation (Say suy-kuy-uh-truhst)
Sentence
Most patients bond with their psychiatrist.
Word
microcosm
Pronunciation (Say muy-kruh-koz-uhm)
Sentence
Our planet is a mere microcosm of the universe.
Word
naivety
Pronunciation (Say nuy- eev-uh-tee)
Sentence
His naivety was obvious in the sophisticated crowd.
Word
obnoxious
Pronunciation (Say uhb-nok-shuhs)
Sentence
The obnoxious individual managed to offend everyone in the room.
Word
didgeridoo
Pronunciation (Say dij-uh-ree-doo)
Sentence
The didgeridoo produces a low-pitched complex sound when played properly.
Word
guillotine
Pronunciation (Say gil-uh-teen)
Sentence
In medieval times,a guillotine was used to cut off head: more recently it is
used to cut paper.
Word
fascinating
Pronunciation (Say fas-uh-nayt-ting)
Sentence
The study of human life is a fascinating subject.
Word
colloquial
Pronunciation (Say kuh-loh-kwee-uhl)
Sentence
To foreigners, our colloquial language is a source of amusement.
Word
accidentally
Pronunciation (Say ak-suh-den-tuhl-lee)
Sentence
I accidentally took your pen.
Word
colossal
Pronunciation (Say kuh-los-uhl)
Sentence
You put a colossal effort into your last assessment task.
Word
scimitar
Pronunciation (Say sim-uh-tuh)
Sentence
A scimitar is a curved oriental sword.
(50)
Diocesan Spelling Bee
Stage 4 – Round 4
Word
excel
Pronunciation (Say ek-sel)
Sentence
We aim to give every student the opportunity to excel.
Word
fundamental
Pronunciation (Say fun-duh-men-tuhl)
Sentence
The Constitution ensures our fundamental rights.
Word
kilowatt
Pronunciation (Say kil-uh-wot)
Sentence
Ten 100-watt light bulbs use one kilowatt of electrical power.
Word
incurable
Pronunciation (Say in-kyoo-ruh-buhl)
Sentence
The disease was incurable.
Word
gyroscope
Pronunciation (Say juy-ruh-skohp)
Sentence
A rapidly spinning gyroscope is at the heart of the gyrocompass.
Word
foreclosure
Pronunciation (Say faw-kloh-zhuh)
Sentence
Look into all your options and rights if you face foreclosure.
Word
inertia
Pronunciation (Say in-er-shuh)
Sentence
He blamed government inertia for the holdup.
Word
hypnotise
Pronunciation (Say hip-nuh-tuyz)
Sentence
The therapist wanted to hypnotise the patient.
Word
hideous
Pronunciation (Say hid-ee-uhs )
Sentence
I look hideous in that picture.
Word
cathedral
Pronunciation (Say kuh-thee-druhl)
Sentence
The wedding was held at the cathedral.
Word
auxiliary
Pronunciation (Say og-zil-yuh-ree)
Sentence
The ladies auxiliary catered for the luncheon.
Word
deceitful
Pronunciation (Say duh-seet-fhul)
Sentence
The accused is a deceitful, dishonest man.
Word
engross
Pronunciation (Say en-grohs)
Sentence
The iPad has the power to engross all students.
Word
denominator
Pronunciation (Say duh-nom-uh-nay-tuh)
Sentence
The denominator is the bottom number of a fraction.
Word
rehearse
Pronunciation (Say ruh-hers)
Sentence
The band had to rehearse for the concert.
Word
monarchy
Pronunciation (Say mon-uhk-ee)
Sentence
The British monarchy is led by Queen Elizabeth.
Word
pancreas
Pronunciation (Say pang-kree-uhs)
Sentence
The operation on his pancreas was successful.
Word
prosperous
Pronunciation (Say pros-puh-ruhs)
Sentence
The town was prosperous after the rain.
Word
radii
Pronunciation (Say ray-dee-i)
Sentence
The radii were difficult to calculate.
Word
officiate
Pronunciation (Say uh-fish-ee-ayt)
Sentence
He was asked to officiate the grand final.
Word
salutation
Pronunciation (Say sal-yuh-tay-shun)
Sentence
He was greeted with the traditional salutation.
Word
territorial
Pronunciation (Say te-ruh-taw-ree-uhl)
Sentence
The army gained a territorial advantage.
Word
slaughter
Pronunciation (Say slaw-tuh)
Sentence
We usually slaughter animals for food.
Word
zucchini
Pronunciation (zoo-kee-nee)
Sentence
My least favourite vegetable is zucchini.
Word
souvenir
Pronunciation (Say soo-vuh-neer)
Sentence
We found a fantastic souvenir stall in Paris.
Word
thoroughly
Pronunciation (Say thu-ruh-lee)
Sentence
He was thoroughly drenched from the rain.
Word
snivel
Pronunciation (Say sniv-uhl)
Sentence
The child continued to snivel throughout the ceremony.
Word
rogue
Pronunciation (Say rohg)
Sentence
The rogue stole from the elderly.
Word
malice
Pronunciation (Say mal-uhs)
Sentence
She showed malice towards others.
Word
porous
Pronunciation (Say paw-ruhs)
Sentence
A sponge is porous.
Word
notary
Pronunciation (Say noh-tuh-ree)
Sentence
The solicitor had to fulfil his duties as a notary.
Word
mileage
Pronunciation (Say muyl-ehg)
Sentence
His car had great mileage.
Word
precedent
Pronunciation (Say pree-suh-dent)
Sentence
The case was won on a past precedent.
Word
refrigerator
Pronunciation (Say ree-frij-uh-rayt-or)
Sentence
The refrigerator struggled to keep the food cold.
Word
pallet
Pronunciation (Say pal-uht)
Sentence
The pallet of goods fell from the truck.
Word
rancid
Pronunciation (Say ran-suhd)
Sentence
The smell in the kitchen was rancid.
Word
nobly
Pronunciation (Say noh-buh-lee)
Sentence
The grandmother sat nobly at the head of the table.
Word
inoculate
Pronunciation (Say i-nok-yoo-layt)
Sentence
The doctor had to inoculate against the virus.
Word
levee
Pronunciation (Say lev-ee)
Sentence
The levee broke its bank and flooded the town.
Word
extraordinary
Pronunciation (Say ek-staw-duh-nuh-ree)
Sentence
The view at the top of the mountain was extraordinary.
Word
livable (or liveable)
Pronunciation (Say liv-a-bhul)
Sentence
The house was very liveable.
Word
harass
Pronunciation (Say ha-ruhs)
Sentence
He would constantly harass his brother.
Word
dialogue
Pronunciation (Say duy-uh-log)
Sentence
The dialogue between the actors was enthralling.
Word
condense
Pronunciation (Say kuhn-dens)
Sentence
She had to condense her essay to comply with the word limit.
Word
aerial
Pronunciation (Say air-ree-uhl)
Sentence
The aerial blew off in the storm.
Word
hereditary
Pronunciation (Say huh-red-uh-tuh-ree)
Sentence
Many of our characteristics are hereditary.
Word
languish
Pronunciation (Say lang-gwish)
Sentence
He was left to languish at his misfortune.
Word
innocuous
Pronunciation (Say i-nok-yoo-uhs)
Sentence
The rash on her leg was innocuous.
Word
hybrid
Pronunciation (Say huy-brid)
Sentence
The hybrid car is the way of the future.
Word
isthmus
Pronunciation (Say isth-muhs)
Sentence
An isthmus is a narrow piece of land connecting two larger bodies of land.
(50)
Diocesan Spelling Bee
Stage 4 – Round 5
Word
glamorous
Pronunciation (Say glam-uh-ous)
Sentence
The model was glamorous.
Word
persuade
Pronunciation (Say puh-swayd)
Sentence
The students tried to persuade the teacher not to give any homework.
Word
procrastinate
Pronunciation (Say proh-kras-tuh-nayt)
Sentence
The boy was prone to procrastinate over answers.
Word
voracious
Pronunciation (Say vuh-ray shuhs)
Sentence
The man had a voracious appetite.
Word
lucrative
Pronunciation (Say loo-kruh-tiv)
Sentence
The football player signed a lucrative deal.
Word
amnesty
Pronunciation (Say am-nuh-stee)
Sentence
Amnesty was granted to the political prisoners.
Word
unsanitary
Pronunciation (Say un- san-uh-tuh-ree)
Sentence
The toilets were in an unsanitary condition.
Word
embargo
Pronunciation (Say em-bah-goh)
Sentence
The embargo meant that the ship could not dock.
Word
vessel
Pronunciation (Say ves-uhl)
Sentence
The vessel sank during the storm.
Word
benevolent
Pronunciation (Say buh-nev-uh-luhnt)
Sentence
A large donation was made to the benevolent society.
Word
crypt
Pronunciation (Say kript)
Sentence
The crypt beneath the church was his final resting place.
Word
meticulous
Pronunciation (Say muh-tik-yuh-luhs)
Sentence
The beadwork on the dress was meticulous.
Word
meant
Pronunciation (Say ment)
Sentence
It was meant to be this way.
Word
occurred
Pronunciation (Say uh-kerd)
Sentence
The accident occurred at the intersection.
Word
credentials
Pronunciation (Say kruh-den- shuhls)
Sentence
The woman’s credentials meant she did not qualify for the job.
Word
aquatic
Pronunciation (Say uh-kwot-ik)
Sentence
They went to the aquatic centre for a swim.
Word
curriculum
Pronunciation (Say kuh-rik-yuh-luhm)
Sentence
The Australian Curriculum is mandatory for all students.
Word
inane
Pronunciation (Say in-ayn)
Sentence
The girls inane chatter was driving their father mad!
Word
inaugural
Pronunciation (Say in-aw-gyuh-ruhl)
Sentence
The president gave his inaugural speech.
Word
consensus
Pronunciation (Say kuhn-sen-suhs)
Sentence
The board came to a consensus about the matter.
Word
affinity
Pronunciation (Say uh-fin-uh-tee)
Sentence
There is a strong affinity between them.
Word
bugle
Pronunciation (Say byoo-guhl)
Sentence
He played the Last Post on the bugle.
Word
nasal
Pronunciation (Say nay-zuhl)
Sentence
His nasal cavity was crushed by the punch.
Word
primal
Pronunciation (Say pruy-muhl)
Sentence
The behaviour of the pack was primal.
Word
trajectory
Pronunciation (Say truh-jek-tuh-ree)
Sentence
The comet’s trajectory caused great concern.
Word
susceptible
Pronunciation (Say suh-sep-tuh-buhl)
Sentence
After the operation, he was very susceptible to infection.
Word
vivisection
Pronunciation (Say viv-uh-sek-shuhn)
Sentence
The scientist performed a vivisection on a live rat.
Word
perfidy
Pronunciation (Say per-fuh-dee)
Sentence
Perfidy is a breach of faith.
Word
escalator
Pronunciation (Say es-kuh-layt-or)
Sentence
The escalator moves the shoppers effortlessly between the floors.
Word
mercenary
Pronunciation (Say mer-suh-nuh-ree)
Sentence
The mercenary collect his reward.
Word
cameos
Pronunciation (Say kam-ee-ohs)
Sentence
Various actors provided cameos throughout the movie.
Word
fibrous
Pronunciation (Say fuy-bruhs)
Sentence
The rose bush had a very fibrous root structure.
Word
surmise
Pronunciation (Say suh-muyz)
Sentence
The police had to surmise the truth of the matter.
Word
propeller
Pronunciation (Say pruh-pel-uh)
Sentence
The propeller on the aircraft stalled.
Word
phenomenon
Pronunciation (Say fuh-nom-uh-nuhm)
Sentence
The scientists could not agree on the cause of the phenomenon.
Word
meticulous
Pronunciation (Say muh-tik-yuh-luhs)
Sentence
The accountant was meticulous in his calculations.
Word
venom
Pronunciation (Say ven-uhm)
Sentence
Brown snake venom is deadly.
Word
omitted
Pronunciation (Say oh-mit-ud)
Sentence
Their names were omitted from the list.
Word
potpourri
Pronunciation (Say poh-poor-ree)
Sentence
The potpourri had a spicy aroma.
Word
unduly
Pronunciation (Say un-dyoo-lee)
Sentence
He was unduly scrutinised.
Word
freight
Pronunciation (Say frayt)
Sentence
The freight train crashed at the level crossing.
Word
deterrent
Pronunciation (Say duh-te-ruhnt)
Sentence
The consequences were not enough of a deterrent to the criminal.
Word
comparatively
Pronunciation (Say kuhm-pa-ruh-tiv-lee)
Sentence
The footballer was comparatively unscathed after the scrum collapsed.
Word
simultaneous
Pronunciation (Say sim-uhl-tay-nee-uhs)
Sentence
The class could not comprehend the simultaneous equation.
Word
piccolo
Pronunciation (Say pik-uh-loh)
Sentence
The piccolo gave a shrill sound.
Word
tarantula
Pronunciation (Say tuh-ran-chuh-luh)
Sentence
The tarantula is a most hideous spider.
Word
spurn
Pronunciation (Say sp-urn)
Sentence
She had to spurn the attention of the young man.
Word
sieve
Pronunciation (Say siv)
Sentence
The sieve was needed to sift the flour.
Word
nausea
Pronunciation (Say naw-zee-uh)
Sentence
Her nausea was overwhelming.
Word
asphalt
Pronunciation (Say ash-felt)
Sentence
They had to lay fresh asphalt on the road.
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Stage 4 – Round 6
Diocesan Spelling Bee
Word
trait
Pronunciation (Say trayt)
Sentence
Height is a welcome trait if you’re interested in basketball.
Word
veneer
Pronunciation (Say vuh-neer)
Sentence
The thin veneer of kindness failed to mask his growing anger.
Word
posse
Pronunciation (Say pos-ee)
Sentence
In Western style movies, the posse is the group deputised to apprehend the
villain.
Word
quaff
Pronunciation (Say kwof)
Sentence
Shearers often quaff a schooner of beer at the end of a long day.
Word
rancid
Pronunciation (Say ran-suhd)
Sentence
The rancid butter made the sandwich taste disgusting.
Word
luau
Pronunciation (Say loo-ow)
Sentence
A luau is an Hawaiian feast.
Word
jacuzzi
Pronunciation (Say juh-koo-zee)
Sentence
The water jets of the Jacuzzi eased our aching muscles.
Word
isle
Pronunciation (Say uyl)
Sentence
An isle is a small island like our own Apple isle.
Word
melee
Pronunciation (Say mel-ay)
Sentence
The melee at Recess led to several lunchtime detentions.
Word
larynx
Pronunciation (Say la-ringks)
Sentence
Her swollen larynx made talking difficult.
Word
applique
Pronunciation (Say ap-luh-kay)
Sentence
The applique, which was sewn onto her skirt, looked amazing.
Word
beret
Pronunciation (Say bear-ray)
Sentence
Is the beret part of a French artist’s uniform?
Word
eczema
Pronunciation (Say ek-suh-muh)
Sentence
Eczema is just a big itch waiting for a scratch.
Word
harlequin
Pronunciation (Say hah-luh-kwuhn)
Sentence
The harlequin is usually the mute colourful character in a pantomime.
Word
gnash
Pronunciation (Say nash)
Sentence
The grizzly bear decided to hungrily gnash his sharp teeth.
Word
idyll
Pronunciation (Say id-uhl)
Sentence
The idyll in poetry is usually a peaceful romantic rural setting.
Word
onyx
Pronunciation (Say on-iks)
Sentence
Onyx is a semi-precious type of coloured, marble-like stone.
Word
nickelodeon
Pronunciation (Say nikel-ode-ee-uhn)
Sentence
A coin-operated jukebox was called a nickelodeon.
Word
rescind
Pronunciation (Say ruh-sind)
Sentence
When a judge chooses to rescind a motion, it means he cancels it.
Word
sauerkraut
Pronunciation (Say sowuh-krowt)
Sentence
The German’s love of sauerkraut –pickled cabbage-is a mystery to us all.
Word
scourge
Pronunciation (Say skerj)
Sentence
Pirates were often referred to as “the scourge of the Seven Seas”.
Word
sleight
Pronunciation (Say sluyt)
Sentence
Sleight of hand is a magician’s greatest skill!
Word
tableau
Pronunciation (Say tab-low)
Sentence
The Christmas nativity is a common tableau.
Word
tout
Pronunciation (towt)
Sentence
To tout wares to unsuspecting tourists, is a common practice in Bali.
Word
rouge
Pronunciation (Say roozh)
Sentence
Rouge is a red cosmetic, used for colouring the cheeks.
Word
poinsettia
Pronunciation (Say poin-set-ee-uh)
Sentence
The large red fronds make the poinsettia a popular Christmas plant.
Word
obsolescent
Pronunciation (Say ob-suh-les-uhnt)
Sentence
Our technological age has made the humble typewriter obsolescent .
Word
marquee
Pronunciation (Say mah-kee)
Sentence
The marquee was positioned perfectly for the outdoor wedding reception.
Word
legionnaire
Pronunciation (Say lee-juh-nair)
Sentence
A legionnaire belongs to the French foreign army.
Word
decaffeinate
Pronunciation (Say dee-kaf-uh-nayt)
Sentence
To decaffeinate coffee seems to take away its ‘coffee-ness’.
Word
facsimile
Pronunciation (Say fak-sim-uh-lee)
Sentence
She had a facsimile of the transcript.
Word
belligerence
Pronunciation (Say buh-lig-er-uh-ns)
Sentence
It was a blatant act of belligerence.
Word
liege
Pronunciation (Say leej)
Sentence
The Scots obeyed him as their liege lord.
Word
marquess
Pronunciation (Say mah-kwuhs)
Sentence
They marquess attended the grand ball at the palace.
Word
catastrophe
Pronunciation (Say-kuh-tas-truh-fee)
Sentence
Inaction will only bring us closer to catastrophe.
Word
nonpareil
Pronunciation (Say non-puh-rel/non-puh-rayl)
Sentence
Nonpareil means to be unsurpassed or unmatched.
Word
quandary
Pronunciation (Say kwon-duh-ree)
Sentence
They were in a legal quandary.
Word
plaid
Pronunciation (Say plad)
Sentence
She wore a plaid shawl.
Word
sachet
Pronunciation (Say sash-ay)
Sentence
They put the unused portion into a sachet.
Word
seance
Pronunciation (Say say-ons)
Sentence
They held a séance to try and meet with the dead.
Word
silhouette
Pronunciation (Say sil-uh-wet)
Sentence
We can always use a silhouette of Father Christmas.
Word
ancillary
Pronunciation (Say an-sil-uh-ree)
Sentence
Paragraph 19 was merely an ancillary to paragraph 16.
Word
cardiopulmonary
Pronunciation (Say kah-dee-oh-pul-muh-nuh-ree)
Sentence
The man performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Word
exquisite
Pronunciation (Say eks-kwiz-it )
Sentence
Exquisite lace adorned the antique bridal gown.
Word
hydraulic
Pronunciation (Say huy-dro-lik)
Sentence
Firefighters removed a casualty using hydraulic equipment.
Word
motif
Pronunciation (Say moh-tuhf/moh-teef)
Sentence
There is a motif on my collar.
Word
palette
Pronunciation (Say pal-uht)
Sentence
Choose a colour from the palette.
Word
periphery
Pronunciation (Say puh-rif-uh-ree)
Sentence
Most of the housing is on the southern periphery of the city.
Word
surety
Pronunciation (Say shaw-ruh-tee)
Sentence
It is worth buying quality goods, for the added surety that is provided.
Word
trichotomy
Pronunciation (Say tri-coht-ohm-ee)
Sentence
A trichotomy is a system based on three parts.
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